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Simon Hayes says South Yorkshire PCC Shaun Wright should "do the right thing"

HAMPSHIRE'S police chief has called on his fellow Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Yorkshire to stand down.

Shaun Wright is facing increasing calls to stand down after an inquiry found at least 1,400 children in Rotherham were sexually exploited by gangs between 1997 and 2013.

Simon Hayes, Hampshire's PCC, has joined Prime Minister David Cameron in calling for Mr Wright, formerly the councillor in charge of children's services at Rotherham Council, to go.

He said: "The type and scale of abuse in Rotherham is shocking and should send a shockwave to everyone involved in supporting the vulnerable, victims of crime and witnesses to it.

"The fact that the experiences of so many of the victims of the abuse were not listened to or acted upon, further compounds the abuse suffered by these vulnerable young people in South Yorkshire.

"I am taking this issue very seriously, the concerns of victims and witnesses must be at the heart of our criminal justice service.

"While not rushing to any early conclusions and accepting the protection of children is not solely the responsibility of the Police, I have asked Hampshire Constabulary's Chief Constable to undertake an in-depth review into this issue across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

“I will be seeking quality assurance from the local Safeguarding Children Boards."

And when asked if Mr Wright should stand down, he said: "This is a matter for Mr Wright and South Yorkshire's Police and Crime Panel but I would suggest that his credibility and reputation have been damaged so much as a result of these revelations that, in my opinion, the right thing to do would be to resign."